Top 10 material handling equipment to increase efficiency in a warehouse

May 14, 2021

Regarding material handling equipment, you should have a list of items that are a must for scaling up efficiency within a warehouse environment. You should be aware of numerous kinds of material handling systems, particularly essential items like material handling trolleys and other different types of materials. 

An extensive list of warehouse equipment is also necessary. If space is an issue, then you can attempt to increase your warehouse storage capacity seamlessly. You can also take a look at solutions for optimizing the efficiency of existing warehouse equipment as well. Material equipment will cover everything from multiple kinds of vehicles to even storage equipment and other vital tools. In most scenarios, warehouses come in handy for storing items and shifting them back to wherever they are required. You should ensure that it becomes easier to shift items for greater warehouse efficiency. You should also ensure that you have good tools in this regard. 

Here are the best 10 material handling equipment options that you should have for scaling up overall warehouse efficiency levels: 

  1. Industrial Truck- The industrial truck is a device for transportation that is necessary for shifting items in material handling entities. They may range from hand-operated and smaller trucks to even regular vehicular lifts as well. The commonly found industrial trucks in warehouses include two-wheel hand trucks or trolleys with metallic frames and toe-plates. Some even come in folding avatars which can be flatly packed when not being used. 
  2. Pallet Jack- The pallet truck/jack/pump is used for the transportation of materials that have been stacked upon pallets. They come with twin forks and these slide underneath the pallet in question. The handle is used to raise forks with suitable pumping force, thereby ensuring hydraulic actions that ultimately lift pallets and enable better transportation. You should make a note of all essential pallet racking used in the store
  3. Walkie Stackers- The Walkie Stacker is the next step forward from the pallet jack. The design remains almost similar, although the stacker gets motorized in this case. The truck component of the stacker is the same as the fork alignment and the design of the forklift truck as well. The entire assembly may be shifted around via hand, and pallets may be lifted towards the second shelf of any warehouse stacking setup. They are deemed suitable for smaller capacity items and for use upon concrete floors and indoor usage. They are also comparatively affordable in comparison to forklift trucks. 
  4. Platform trucks- They represent a simple platform and frame upon wheels. The platform may be hand-stacked when multiple big items need transportation or may be loaded via any material handling tool. This is good for small or medium-sized warehouse functioning or swifter logistical solutions for more prominent entities. 
  5. Order Pickers- These are smaller-sized forklift trucks bigger than walkie stackers and can take the added weight. Order pickers usually enable the retrieval and replacement of stacked items from heights ranging between 10 and 30 feet on average. 
  6. Sideloader- These are used for loading and unloading from machine sides and are not similar to loading mechanisms involving front-positioned forks of regular forklifts. Sideloaders may be positioned best in narrower doorways and other aisles, although maneuverability should be carefully ascertained. 
  7. AGV- AGVs are essentially mobile robots that follow markers, wires, and other indicators upon the warehouse floor. AGVs may deploy cameras for guidance along with magnets and lasers alike. They are used for big-scale industrial applications for shifting materials around warehouses too. 
  8. Conveyor Belts- Conveyor belts are belts driven by motors, and they are a component of mainstream conveyor systems. Items needing transportation are positioned upon an end of the conveyor belt, and the motorized setup shifts them to the eventual destination. 
  9. Stackers- These are hand-propelled and smaller motorized trucks that come in handy for lifting items off the ground and onto the shelves. This is suitable for utilizing warehouse space to the maximum. They are affordable to run in comparison to forklifts and are ideal for medium or small applications alike. 
  10. Reclaimers- Reclaimers are machines with rotating scoops at the end of the conveyor system. The scoop helps pick up loose and smaller items and puts them up on the conveyor belt likewise. The items are transported along this belt until they reach the final destination.

Other items also come in handy for smooth warehouse functioning, including hoppers. These are large funnels with items being positioned on the top, and they are shifted towards the bottom courtesy of gravity. There is a narrow aperture that enables proper flow control as well. You should make a note of all essential warehouse material handling equipment for smoother functioning and enhanced efficiency.